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Ind. service honors couple killed in Seattle crash

RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Hundreds of mourners filled a north-central Indiana high school for a memorial honoring an Indiana couple struck and killed last month by a suspected drunken driver in Seattle.

Wednesday night's memorial for 66-year-old Dennis Schulte and 68-year-old Judith Schulte was held in the gymnasium of Western High School in Russiaville, where Dennis was a teacher, The Kokomo Tribune reported (
http://bit.ly/10P4d9V).

Pastor Steve Cole called the Schultes "two of the most wonderful people God ever created."

Judy was a retired guidance director and Dennis was a retired math teacher. They both worked for schools near Kokomo.

"They were about the simple things _ family, friends and relationships," said Tim McElfresh, who said he was like a son to the Schultes. He added that the couple devoted their lives to helping others.

The Kokomo couple had moved to Seattle last month to witness the birth of their first grandchild. A suspected drunken driver struck and killed them March 25 as they crossed a street in Seattle.

Dennis and Judy's son Dan said in a statement read at the memorial service that his parents "made the world a better place."

Their daughter-in-law and newborn grandson were also injured in that collision, but are recovering at a Seattle hospital. A statement from the Schulte family says the two have "made some progress in their recovery" and that they're both in stable condition.

"There is certainly a long road of recovery before them," the statement said.

The family also said they have established the Judy and Dennis Schulte Scholarship for Future Educators, which will benefit students at Kokomo, Western and Northwestern high schools.

Mark W. Mullan has been charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and reckless driving in the Schultes' deaths. Prosecutors say he had a blood alcohol level of 0.22 percent after the accident. The 50-year-old Mullan was scheduled for arraignment Thursday.